Rhode Island is at a turning point. Will the government’s assault on RI families continue or will common sense prevail, with income taxes being lowered to help make our state more competitive?

Everyone is affected. If wealthy Ocean Staters are taxed at a higher rate, has history has always show … and as we have seen just in the last year or two … failed “tax the rich” strategies end up backfiring leading to fewer and fewer dollars invested in our state, fewer and fewer high-performing companies, and fewer and fewer good paying jobs.

As progressives push for new taxes including a proposed “millionaire tax,” Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz is offering a very different path: broad-based income tax cuts aimed at making the Ocean State more competitive. On #InTheDugout with Mike Stenhouse, Sten gets straight to it with de la Cruz and Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist to unpack what’s really driving this high-stakes debate in RI politics.

Sten presses on the core question: does Rhode Island have a revenue problem or a spending problem? De la Cruz outlines her plan to phase in income tax reductions and rein in government spending, while Norquist connects the dots nationally, warning about the hidden “inflation tax” and how federal and state policies are squeezing taxpayers. Together, they expose how competing tax strategies could impact economic growth, business investment, and family finances across the Ocean State.

With the 2026 election approaching and affordability top of mind, this debate isn’t abstract, it’s personal. From local government budgets to the cost of living, the decisions made now will shape Rhode Island’s future. Watch now to understand what’s at stake, where the candidates stand, and how these policies could hit your bottom line.